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remain there or go to the Southern Cheyenne reservation, but must choose one or the other, and not go back and forth. They also wanted ammunition, and were told they must be at peace a long time first, and then we would ask it for them. So far as we can judge it is the intention of the Cheyennes to have peace. We gave them some presents and rations to confirm their good intentions.

Roman Nose, Whistling Elk Walking, Little Bull, and the other Minneconjou chiefs, were told that no presents were sent to them, because their agency is on the Missouri, and they must go there for their presents. They should have rations while here, and some to last to their hunting grounds. They seemed to consider this satisfactory, and are well dis posed. They were brought to meet the commissioners by Red Cloud, and will, we think, with him, remain peaceable. Duplicate receipts for the annuity goods were signed by the chiefs of the Ogallallas, and are herewith inclosed. They had been prepared previously to opening all the cases, and it was subsequently found that two cases of satinets on the invoice were not among the goods delivered; there were two cases of clothing delivered which were not on the invoices or receipts.

The commissioners gave an order to Coffee & Campbell, post traders, at Fort Fetterman, to deliver to the Cheyennes certain goods named therein. A copy of the order will be found in the records of Mr. Fayel, clerk.

The bill of S. E. Ward, also for presents, amounting to $882 25, and the bills of Leon Pallardy and John Richard for $100 and $150, respectively, for services rendered, were also approved.

SUBSISTENCE OF THE INDIANS.

The commissioners desired to avoid the necessity of purchasing or issuing the rations required for the Indians, preferring that the issue should be made by the Commissary Department of the Army, but on receiving information at Cheyenne that the supplies at Fort Laramie were not sufficient to meet the expected demand, and on consultation with Governor John A. Campbell, it was decided to order 200 sacks of flour. Having been instructed by Hon. E. S. Parker, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in the event of needing supplies to apply to Augustus Kountz, at Omaha, Governor Campbell telegraphed to him at our request, and received in reply an offer of L. C. Curry to furnish the flour at $3.50 per sack. A telegram was also sent to the flour mills at Council Bluffs, and a reply received offering to deliver it at Cheyenne for $3 per sack. The flour was, therefore, ordered from General Dodge, at $3, and the quantity increased. Subsequently to this purchase we learned from the commissary that he could furnish all the supplies likely to be needed. It was then arranged that the flour should be turned in on account, and the issues of rations, already begun to the Indians who were gathering at Fort Laramie and Fort Fetterman, should be continued under the direction of the respective commanding officers, and the accounts adjusted between the War and Indian Departments at Washington.

A request had been made by us also that the annuity goods might be transported to Laramie by Government train. This was done to the extent to which the transportation which could be spared, the remainder being provided for by Governor Campbell.

You are respectfully referred to a supplementary letter for the views of the commissioners on the subject of the agent and traders proposed to be appointed for Red Cloud, and to the record of Mr. Fayel, clerk to the commissioners, for details of matters referred to herein.

Mr. Fayel's record of the proceedings in the several councils, although not phonographic, is sufficiently full and commendably accurate, and gives a fair idea of the temper and disposition of the Indians.

From General Sherman; General C. C. Augur, commander of the Department of the Platte; Colonel John H. King, of Fort Russell; and Colonel F. F. Flint, at Fort Laramie, we received the most cordial coöperation. To the two last named and the officers of their commands, and to Colonel E. W. Crittenden, and the officers of the escort, we are under many obligations for their attention and courtesies. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, &c.,

(See Appendix No. 1.)

FELIX R. BRUNOT.
ROBT. CAMPBELL.

Report of the committee of the board of Indian commissioners appointed to risit the Osage Indians, and obtaining their consent to the act of Congress providing for the sale of their lands in Kansas, to aid them in their remoral to the Indian Territory.

Hon. FELIX R. BRUNOT, Chairman :

SIR: On the 22d of July we received a letter from the honorable Secretary of the Interior inclosing a communication from the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated July 19, recommending that a committee of our board visit the Great and Little Osage Indians with a view to an arrangement with them for their removal from Kansas to the Indian Territory. (See Appendices 2 and 3.) The subject was brought before the board at its special meeting in New York July 28, and Commissioners John V. Farwell, John D. Lang, and Vincent Colyer were appointed a committee" to visit the Osages, and if upon consultation with the tribes it was ascertained that they accepted the proposition of Congress, the committee were to assist them to the extent of their ability.". Due notice of the action of the board was promptly forwarded to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at Washington.

PRICE TO BE PAID FOR THE CHEROKEE LAND.

On the 2d August a letter was received from Acting Commissioner Cady, (Appendix 4,) informing the committee that the Secretary of the Interior directed him to say "that it was desired that the price to be given for the land, (to be purchased of Cherokees for the Osages,) agreeably to the amended treaty between the United States and Cherokee Nation, shall not exceed 50 cents per acre, and to effect the purchase at even a less price if possible." Accompanying the letter was a copy of another letter, which had been forwarded to Enoch Hoag, dated July 22, (Appendix 5,) in which instructions were given to Agent Gibson, of the Osages, in the following words:

He will inform them (the Osages) that some members of the President's board of commissioners will meet them in council: but the place of meeting of such council must be in the country to which they are to remove, and not upon their reservation in Kansas.

To these instructions the secretary of the board (being the only member of the committee then in Washington) earnestly objected, as they assumed it as a foregone conclusion that the Osages would accept the act of Congress, and they prevented them from meeting on their own S. Ex. 39- -2

reservation and council ground; when the very object of the council was to consider whether they would or would not dispose of that reservation; and they compelled them to meet in a new country, to which, as yet, they had no legal title. On calling the attention of the Secretary of the Interior to these facts, he promptly ordered the instructions to be changed, so that it was left to the Osages themselves to select the council ground. (See Appendix 7.)

COMMITTEE PUNCTUAL-OSAGES DELAYED.

The committee arrived at the Osage agency, Montgomery, Kansas, promptly on the 20th August, the day appointed for the council to meet. Enoch Hoag, the superintendent of Central superintendency, accompanied us down from Lawrence, and Agent Gibson was on the ground, but no Osages had as yet arrived. Mr. Gibson informed us that he had sent out runners to notify the chiefs nearly a fortnight before, but the tribe were nearly all out on the plains buffalo hunting.

VISIT THE NEW OSAGE COUNTRY.

Pending the arrival of the Osages, our committee engaged teams, and, accompanied by Messrs. Hoag and Gibson, we occupied the four following days in visiting and inspecting the new reservation, west of 96°, to which it was proposed to remove the Osages, in the Indian Territory. We rode forty-five miles into the reservation, making a wide detour on our return, so that we could see as much of it as possible. We found the land of excellent quality, a liberal proportion of it, along the banks of the Cana, good bottom land, well timbered, with tall and thick prairie grass, plenty of water, and the upland rolling, apparently covered with good pasture for cattle, and considerable timber. Some Delaware Indians, a few Osages, and about three hundred white people were already settled upon it. The Delawares had located there by mistake, supposing it to be east of 96° of longitude, and part of the unencumbered land of the Cherokees, into which nation they had become incorporated.

LINE OF 96° NOT MARKED.

We could not find any one who could inform us correctly where the 96° run, nor where there were any surveyor's marks to be seen, As it was important that this line should be ascertained by us without delay, in order that we might be able to advise the Osages intelligently, should they ask us for our advice, Mr. Hoag employed a surveyor to immediately run the line and report to us as soon as possible.

COUNCIL HELD ON OLD COUNCIL GROUND IN KANSAS.

On our return to the council ground, as well as on our tour through the new reservation, all of the Osages, full-bloods and half-breeds, were earnest in their petition that the council should be held on the old council ground; although Mr. Gibson had notified them agreeably to the first instructions received before our arrival "that they must not meet on the old council ground." (See Appendix 5.) Finding that noue of them had gone to the new council ground designated, our committee, respecting the appeal of the chiefs, we changed the order, and much to their satisfaction invited them to meet on the old council ground at Drum Creek, Montgomery, Kansas.

WHITE SQUATTERS REMOVED FROM CHEROKEE COUNTRY.

Another objection which the few chiefs who had yet arrived (26th August) strongly urged against the act of Congress they were considering, was the presence of the three hundred white settlers on the new reservation. As this complaint was reasonable, we visited the officer commanding the United States troops, Captain J. S. Polland, Sixth Infantry, stationed near the council ground, to ascertain what instructions hehad received with regard to these white trespassers on the Indian Territory. The captain said that he required a notice from Major Craig, the agent of the Cherokees, before he could act. We were disappointed at hearing this, as Major Craig was a five-days' ride distant; and we had supposed that the Government at Washington had arranged a more expeditious way of dealing with these squatters. Captain Polland then kindly showed us a letter from General Sherman (see Appendices 8 and 9) to General Pope, commanding Department of Missouri, which, if executed promptly, would effectually remove this obstacle. It said: "You (General Pope) had better send a cavalry force down on the line, and give notice that you have positive orders to protect the Indian Territory from unauthorized settlers and squatters." The order requiring notice from Agent Craig, of the Cherokees before taking any steps toward removing the squatters, Captain Polland informed us, came from General Pope, though the captain said he would go so far as to issue a public notice to the squatters to leave. This he drew up and Agent Gibson had it printed and posted throughout the neighborhood. As no more Indians came to the council, and the chiefs gave as a reason that the enemies of the bill were using this "presence of the white squatters" as an argument to prevent the Osages from coming in to agree to the act, it was determined by the committee that the secretary of the board should ride over to Columbus, 38 miles east, and telegraph the Secretary of the Interior to see if General Sherman's order could not be executed, and also to ascertain from the Indian Bureau what had become of the presents of goods promised to be forwarded by the 20th for the Osages. (See Appendix 10.)

INJUSTICE TO OSAGE HALF-BREEDS.

Another difficulty we had to contend with was to satisfy the halfbreeds. Many of them had choice farms with improvements-land that was then selling for $12 and $15 the acre. To part with this at $1 25 per acre, the price the bill allowed, seemed unjust, and they were dissatisfied accordingly. To remedy this, Messrs. Farwell and Lang called together the leading citizens of Parkersburg and Independence, and they readily agreed, although the half-breeds were not citizens of the United States, yet considering the justice of their complaints, and the great influence they wielded over the Osages, that they, the half-breeds, should be paid a fair price for their land and improvements; and a public meeting was called to accomplish this, and a committee of prominent citizens selected to protect the half-breeds in their rights. Much solicitude was manifested by the citizens of Kansas that the Osages should sign the bill agreeing to the sale of the land. Without this was done, they could have no legal title to their land, and they suspected or fully believed that the old railroad corporation was vigorously at work among the Osages, endeavoring to prejudice them against the bill, and to their agents was attributed the delay in the attendance of the Osages at the council.

There was considerable discussion about the price of the land on the new reservation, as to how much the Osages were to pay for it. We fully explained to them the instructions of the Government, that they were not to pay more than 50 cents per acre, in case they could not agree with the Cherokees, and they referred it to the President. Colonel Vaun, agent for the Cherokees, was early on the ground, looking after the interest of his people, and was zealous in endeavoring to get $1 25 per acre for this land from the Osages. So earnestly did he press this that the Osages seemed at one time to be fully persuaded that they must pay that price for the new land, and it hindered our progress considerably. We succeeded, however, in satisfying the Osages that the President would not make them pay more than 50 cents an acre, and as the whole of the land west of 96 degrees was encumbered with the proviso that the Government could at any time settle friendly Indians upon it, and had the final appeal as to the price of it, the Cherokees could not complain if this land, which was only theirs under these restricted conditions, was sold at less price than that of the Osages, which was unencumbered, except illegally by squatters.

THE ACT OF CONGRESS ACCEPTED.

All of the above obstacles having thus received attention, the Indians began to come in, and we held repeated conferences with their chiefs. All these things being made satisfactory to them, on the 11th of August they assembled in full council, in the woods on the banks of Drum Creek. All the tribes and bands of the Great and Little Osages, nearly twentyeight hundred, excepting Watanka of Young Claymore's band, were rep resented by their chiefs or headmen; and after having the act of Congress again carefully read and interpreted to them, they formally, through their governor, Joseph Pra-ne-pro-pah-she, consented to the act of Congress, agreeing to sell their lands at $1 25 per acre, and to remove into the Indian Territory, on lands selected for them immediately on the line west of 960, at 50 cents, or less, per acre. They gave the number of their tribe as three thousand five hundred, and asked that land be secured in the new territory for that number of souls. Before signing the act the chiefs retired for private consultation, and returning after an interval presented the commissioners the following petition, which they wished to have pre sented to the President. (See Appendix 18.)

For a report of this meeting, speeches, &c., see Appendix 14, Hearing that Watanka, the head councillor of Little Claymore band, would certainly be in on Monday, 12th August, although the act of Con gress had been legally accepted and signed by the officials of the nation. and Messrs. Farwell and Lang had been compelled by other duties to leave, the secretary remained to meet Watanka. This chief, also, after having fully asserted his dignity and right to be consulted, signed the

aet.

Immediately on the arrival of the secretary of the board at St. Louis, on the 14th instant, he telegraphed, to the Secretary of the Interior notice that the Osages had consented to the bill. (See Appendix 34.) Two of our committee, John V. Farwell and John D. Lang, having separated and gone on other missions to the Indian country, as above referred to, before the secretary had obtained the signatures of Wa tanka and the other chiefs of Black Dog's band, the official report could not receive their signatures until their return. As the act of Congress was specially definite in all its provisions, and as the Osages had accepted it without modification or change, and the secretary had promptly

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